Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek TNG)

Overview[]

One of the greatest, most respected, and highly decorated Starship Captains of Starfleet in the 24th Century. Jean-Luc Picard was ultimately chosen for its' highest honor: to command the flagship of the United Federation of Planets as the Master and Commander of the NCC-1701-D, U.S.S. Enterprise. After a lengthy period of service in which he played a key role in a number of historical events and continues to serve as the captain of it's successor starship, the Enterprise-E.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard first appeared on September 28, 1987 in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation premiere episode "Encounter at Farpoint" as the already highly distinguished commander of the newly commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise-D. He was portrayed by Patrick Stewart throughout the series run as well as making a brief cameo appearance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine pilot episode and a number of feature films focusing on the Next Generation cast and would subsequently reprise his role in the ongoing Star Trek: Picard TV series which takes place approximately twenty years after his last appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis.

Background[]

Major Plots[]

Personality and Traits[]

Appearances[]

Films[]

TV Series[]

Star Trek: The Next Generation[]

Season 1

Encounter at Farpoint: Part 1
Encounter at Farpoint: Part 2
The Naked Now
Code of Honor
The Last Outpost
Where No One Has Gone Before
Lonely Among Us
Justice
The Battle
Hide and Q
Haven
The Big Goodbye
Datalore
Angel One
11001001
Too Short a Season
When the Bough Breaks
Home Soil
Coming of Age
Heart of Glory
The Arsenal of Freedom
Symbiosis
Skin of Evil
We'll Always Have Paris
Conspiracy
The Neutral Zone

Season 2

The Child
Where Silence Has Lease
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud as a Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter of Honor
The Measure of a Man
The Dauphin
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up the Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades of Gray

Season 3

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
Who Watches the Watchers
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Defector
The Hunted
The High Ground
Déjà Q
A Matter of Perspective
Yesterday's Enterprise
The Offspring
Sins of the Father
Allegiance
Captain's Holiday
Tin Man
Hollow Pursuits
The Most Toys
Sarek
Ménage à Troi
Transfigurations
The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1

Season 4

The Best of Both Worlds: Part 2
Family
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
Data's Day
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption: Part 1

Season 5

Redemption: Part 2
Darmok
Ensign Ro
Silicon Avatar
Disaster
The Game
Unification: Part 1
Unification: Part 2
A Matter of Time
New Ground
Hero Worship
Violations
The Masterpiece Society
Conundrum
Power Play
Ethics
The Outcast
Cause and Effect
The First Duty
Cost of Living
The Perfect Mate
Imaginary Friend
I, Borg
The Next Phase
The Inner Light
Time's Arrow: Part 1

Season 6

Time's Arrow: Part 2
Realm of Fear
Man of the People
Relics
Schisms
True Q
Rascals
A Fistful of Datas
The Quality of Life
Chain of Command: Part 1
Chain of Command: Part 2
Ship in a Bottle
Aquiel
Face of the Enemy
Tapestry
Birthright: Part 1
Birthright: Part 2
Starship Mine
Lessons
The Chase
Frame of Mind
Suspicions
Rightful Heir
Second Chances
Timescape
Descent: Part 1

Season 7

Descent: Part 2
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit: Part 1
Gambit: Part 2
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Parallels
The Pegasus
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike
All Good Things...: Part 1
All Good Things...: Part 2

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine[]

Emissary: Part 1
Emissary: Part 2

Trivia[]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the sole cast member who has appeared in all seven seasons and all of the episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the four feature film series based on the TNG; Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis.
Jean-Luc Picard was named after Dr. Jean-Felix Piccard, a noted Swiss scientist, high-altitude balloonist, and member of a family of noted explorers which included Jacques Piccard, one of the first to explore the Mariana Trench and Betrand Piccard who was the first to complete non-stop balloon flight around the world.
"Picard" is also an Old French term for "someone with an inquiring mindset".
Both in his biography and in TV canon, Captain Picard has been noted as being of French descent. Curiously, no one has ever made mention of the fact that he speaks with an English accent.
The Star Trek uniforms tended to "ride up" whenever the actors were sitting down and Patrick Stewart got into the habit of straightening his jacket with a sharp downward tug whenever he stood up. This mannerism got noticed by the cast, crew, and fans alike and got jokingly dubbed as "The Picard Maneuver". The phrase was derived from a fictional tactical maneuver created by Captain Picard that he once used to defeat a Ferengi vessel according to the Next Generation canon.
Jean-Luc Picard is the only major Star Trek captain who is not a native of the United States unlike James Kirk, Benjamin Sisko, Kathryn Janeway, and even Johnathan Archer.

Quotes[]

"Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I wish I could say you've been like a father to me. But I've never had one, so I don't know what it feels like. But if there was someone in this universe I could choose to be like, someone who I would want to make proud of me―it's you. You who have the heart of an explorer and the soul of a poet." ―Tasha Yar's holographic farewell to Jean-Luc Picard; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Skin of Evil"

"Yes, I've heard, Data. And I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women. When I have some, I'll let you know." ―Jean-Luc Picard's advice on love to Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "In Theory"

"There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders. You acknowledge their sentience ... but you ignore their personal liberties and freedom. Order a man to hand his child over to the state? Not while I am his captain." ―Jean-Luc Picard defying Admiral Haftel; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Offspring"

"In your own way, you are as stubborn as another captain of the Enterprise I once knew." ―Spock to Jean-Luc Picard; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Unification: Part 2"

"Someone once told me that time is a predator that stalks us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion that goes with us on a journey and reminds us to cherish every moment... because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived." ―Jean-Luc Picard following the destruction of the Enterprise-D; Star Trek: Generations

"Mr. Data? Shut up. Fifteen years I've been waiting to say that!" ―Jean-Luc Picard; Star Trek: Nemesis